One of the saddest things in the world is when I find people who are lonely…who feel they have no true friends. I have found multiple reasons as to why some people feel this way….99% of the time I find there is something they can do to make friends and build relationships. The ones who have the hardest time are invalids and people who are confined for physical or health reasons. Neither are able to get out and interact but must rely on people coming to them.
Building strong relationships is key in life. God created people for meaningful relationships. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. but pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up…A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
If you say you need no one, I just don’t believe you are being truthful first, to yourself and second, to others. We were created for relationships. If you are reading this post and find yourself lonely, I encourage you to go to church. If you are not a faithful church attender or have never gone, do not let it stop you.
The voices in your head may say things like:
“It’s too big.”
“I won’t know anyone.”
“I won’t know where to go.”
The enemy, Satan, loves to keep people isolated and feed them lies. He discourages them by planting stupid thoughts of insecurity and then casts a net of fear over them making them sensitive to the “unknown” or “unfamiliar.” Don’t buy into that. It is a lie from the “pit of hell”. Church has its imperfections and is filled with imperfect people….but as I have traveled and attended hundreds of churches and have grown up in church my entire life…I can honestly say churches are filled with warm, kind, people. Hearts willing to “reach out” and offer friendship. People willing to build relationships and offer love and support to anyone!
Jesus loves the church. It is His first love. He knew when he created man and woman it would be the foundation for a fruitful life. Churches are full of hypocrites of which I am one of the biggest…but it is where I have found people to love me beyond my sin and shortcomings. People who love me beyond my mistakes and encourage me when I am down, off track or sad from life’s trials.
It is also a place where people have celebrated with me life’s successes and wins. We all know life has both..the good times and the bad. Jesus knew that in advance so the church was created to encourage, teach, restore, celebrate, support and provide relationships in order to live life to the fullest. I cannot imagine my life without the “body of Christ” which can be easily found when you attend church regularly.
To build relationships takes time and effort on our part. I encourage you to find a church you can call home where you can attend regularly and then serve and get involved. There is a place for EVERYONE in church and many churches to pick from. Seek to build relationships and some of the BEST, by far in my life, have been found within the church walls.
The book of Acts gives account after account of the church in action–building relationships, meeting needs. If you want a good picture of the body of Christ read the whole book. For now, let’s look briefly at one example found in Acts 2:44-47, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” They were involved in building so many things including others coming to know the Lord as their Savior!
Let me end with a real life example of the church.
Our daughter, Collins, attends the University of Georgia. She started her college career being very involved in golf. When golf was taken away and she felt she had missed the opportunity to build strong relationships within the sorority she had pledged, she found herself without her team or a group of friends. The first two years were spent studying, practicing her game, and competing. A big time commitment.
She found herself lonely…..very lonely. I encouraged her to become involved in church. Thankfully, she took my advice. From that advice she became involved and even went on a mission trip. Today, as a senior at UGA, she has found meaningful, lifelong relationships based on love, commitment, and celebrating the good times as well as coming alongside her in the bad times. She will be the first to tell you that church and becoming involved has been the “IV of B-12” for her time at UGA!
I encourage you today–do not let Satan abuse you with “loneliness”. Put feet to your emotions and go to church. Allow God to provide amazing and strong relationships through church.